Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Beekissed]

It's too bad that this thread is in the meat section, because small pet flock owners avoid this area like the plague.

I've even encouraged people in the silkie thread to give it a try.

We frequent posters can really get the word out to pet flocks as well. Those are the ones that need the natural way most!

That sorts the sheep from the goats, IMO. I like to give out good information to those who are practical, logical and most likely to use it for a good purpose. Anyone who won't kill a chicken for food is none of these qualities, in my book.

I think Bee started this thread so I am betting she came up with the two bucket method. I like using one bucket with a strainer, but that's just me, I think there are so many right ways to do this that everyone should be able to find a method that works for them and their situation. It literally takes me 5 minutes tops to scoop out some feed let it drain for 2 minutes then run it out and fill the feeder.

Gotcha beat. Takes me 5 seconds to scoop it out, about a minute to tote it out to the coop and dump it. The 2BS cuts out that middle time waster of draining it off.

 

[Kassaundra]

I don't think I was the first on BYC to feed fermented...could have been Kasaundra, I'm thinking, but not sure...she chimed in after we started posting on this thread. But I am probably the one that got the word out, researched the info and wrote about my experimenting with it, alongside Shadowmane, who disappeared on me after he started this thread and invited me over.

Yep, the 2 bucket thing is mine, far as I know.

I don't know just how it all took off but more and more folks found out about it and I just kept talking about it and then magic happened. Now everyone is sloppin' their chickens and thinking it's great...

I learned it from a fellow BYCer(Banjoe) long before this thread, he posted about it on the Okie thread, but it was grains not pellets or crumbles. He has lots and lots of chickens and his children are always competing and winning in all kinds of chicken shows so I figured he knew what he was talking about, then I started researching it and figured I'd give it a try, my chickens loved it from the start.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

See the bowl there? I go through 4 of these every 24 hours for 140 birds.
No one is starving

I LOVE your mixed flock, just beautiful birds! The only thing i am missing is the turkeys, but I will have them this spring

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I learned tonight from my Dad, my Gramma fermented all the livestock feeds as well as the birds. He was grinning at me while i was mixing up all the feeds for Friday. I stay a day ahead, always, in case something comes up and i am not home all day. He told me I was more like my Gramma everyday. What a wonderful complement, I am still smiling

! I am down to the last 2 meaties in the freezer already, and decided to do 100 next round. 25 didn't last quite a month here. Hubby peered into the freezer and said, WOW wheres all the chicken?!?!? There's 8 adults in the household and even though i only cook 1 big meal a day, foods go quick. This is the way to go on the meaties, adding the free ranging also. I have NO leftovers. Not even a wing! My other birds turn their nose up at dry food now, and i get the stink eye if i dare serve "that" to them! I just have to get some more PVC pipe for more feeders, and build the hoop houses before i place my order.

 

[Mountain Momma]

Because people get their feelings hurt when we use the word kill in the same sentence as our chickens. It's just a euphemism to get past people's feelings, really.

I think they have different meanings. Like hen and chicken.

Culling is for the good of the whole, whatever that whole is.
Even if the whole is the animal to die. Even if it is to feed the people, or make a stronger flock.

Killing is a sharper word with more teeth and less honor.

Killing is to end life on purpose.
Culling is to end life with purpose.

In loving memory of Skeeter McPeter my little **** eater. 2/14/1988- 1/21/2007
L

 

[jeapa]

I LOVE your mixed flock, just beautiful birds! The only thing i am missing is the turkeys, but I will have them this spring

I'll second that. They are beautiful. I cant wait to buy a larger place out in the country so I can have a larger flock.

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
I'll agree that it's a sharper word but I find no dishonor in killing to keep an animal from suffering or so that my family can eat~never even called that culling until I came to BYC and found out that folks here couldn't stomach the K word and would get all spiky when I used it. I don't even find dishonor in dispatching a potential/or actual predator.

No offense to you, Miss Lisa and this is not directed to you, but in my experience, I find it is those who have rarely ever had to kill, or cannot find the nerve to kill, who believe it has dishonor. For every morsel of meat, dairy, or eggs that goes into the world's mouth, an animal is being killed. Because people do not actually do their own killing anymore, they find it distasteful and somehow lacking in honor.

I believe just the opposite. Those who won't kill their own food but will eat that same food with much enjoyment and without a second's thought for the life that lived before it was on their plate and for the people who have to kill every day, several times a day, just so they can eat. It's not a pleasant job and it's real easy for those who do not do it to somehow think those who can and will are in some way hard-hearted or cruel, and thus have no honor.

Enjoy your breakfast, everyone.

 

[WRVgirl]

Oh shootz, this thread is for meaties only? :whistle

I'm feeding ff to my laying hens. We will one day have a small flock of meaties for the hubby, but right now it's just the girls back there.

I don't see what the problem is...to each their own.

Plus, I've been screaming ff to the mountains since I found out about this stuff. My friend made me stop talking about it the other day. She said "Nicole, I know you're excited but I don't own any chickens...I've got no freaking idea what you're talking about."

 

[3 NH reds]

Beekissed I will join you in the hot seat.Culling to me is getting rid of something less than desirable. This can apply to birds, killing and eating a smaller rooster can help the flock management when breeding them. Lobsters with one claw are sold here in New England as culls. I will pray and thank each animal for its life and the meat it provides. I do not take any pleasure in killing but it is part of a process when raising animals for food. Ted Nugent had harsh words for anyone who ate meat but looked down on people who killed animals. He said they hired assassins to do their dirty work and package it in plastic wrap for them.

Now on to my main question of the day. For the 1st time I got some acv that had the mother in it. Before I just used distilled acv in my mash. I put about 6 oz of acv to 3/4 of a gallon of apple juice in a jug near the wood stove a week ago and still no bubbles. this seems like it is taking to long. Is there a minimum temp to start it? our house gets to 54* during the day.

 

[Beekissed]

When you put it in apple juice you have a much longer wait for vinegar....could be weeks upon weeks. Try inoculating just regular acv(not distilled) with some and wait a week....nice and dark cupboard in your kitchen should be just fine but will happen faster in a warm place.

I'll scoot on over....saved you a seat!

There is room for more in the hot seat...always room for more.